Key Findings
274
people died while incarcerated in West Virginia jails and prisons from 2020 through 2024.
10
additional deaths were reported in the first three months of 2025.
Heart disease was the most commonly reported cause of death among people in custody. But 41 deaths (15%) were labeled as “Other/unknown” and 52 deaths (19%) as “All other illnesses.”
These vague categories make it difficult to understand what medical conditions contributed to these deaths—or whether they could have been prevented.
Mount Olive Correctional Complex had the highest number of prison deaths. Conditions in state prisons warrant further investigation, particularly related to access to healthcare and population aging.
Southern Regional Jail had the highest number of prison deaths. As of December 2023, Southern Regional Jail was operating at 141% of its original design capacity, with 156 people assigned to sleep on the floor—conditions known to increase risk of harm.